Previously I wrote about an enterprise of fake process servers that appeared to really be debt collectors, see Fake Process Servers Work Hard to Scare Money Out of Consumers.
The companies included in that article were located in Corona, California and were Superior Filing Service, Nationwide Filing Service, Capital Filing Service, Southcoast Financial Services, Eagle Filing Service, Asset Filing Service, Raincross Filing Service, Westcoast Filing Service, Worldwide Filing Service, Universal Filing Service, and County Filing Service.
On October 11, 2011 the Federal Trade Commission filed suit against Rincon Management, Rincon Debt Management, Rincon Filing Services, Pacific management Recovery, Prime West Management Recovery, Union Management Services, Union Filing Services, National Filing Services, City Investment Services, Global Filing Services, Pacific Management Recovery, Jason Begley, and Wayne Lunsford.
What caught my eye were the similarities between the companies in the recent FTC suit and the different set of companies named in my previous article, here.
The companies in the suit operate out of Corona, California and use similar private UPS mailboxes.
Rincon Management Services says it operated from 1191 Magnolia Ave, D-381 and D-396, Corona, CA 92879.
Prime West Management Recovery says it operates from 1191 Magnolia Ave, D-381 and D-396, Corona, CA 92879.
Pacific Management Recovery used the mail drop of 541 North Main Street, 104-261, Corona, CA 92882.
National Filing Services, which is a similarly named company as the companies in my previous article, operates out of 1191 Magnolia Ave, D-381, Corona, CA 92879.
Global Filing Services was also using the mail drop of 1191 Magnolia Ave, Suite D, Corona, CA 92789.
If you read my previous article you will find they all appear to operate out of similar mail drops as well.
The FTC suit states that Jason Begley and Wayne Lunsford were the two principals running the show. Begley’s name previously came up in the comments over in that first article.
It’s no surprise that action was taken. The claims made by the FTC sound similar to what I uncovered previously. The FTC states, “Specifically, Defendants falsely claim that a lawsuit has been or soon will be filed against the consumer to collect the debt. They falsely claim that the consumer owes attorney fees and/or court costs for the fictitious legal action. They falsely represent they are process servers seeking to serve the consumers with legal action or arrest, or seizure, garnishment, or attachment of a consumer’s property or wages if the consumer does not agree to pay the alleged debt, when such action is not lawful or when Defendants have no intention of taking such action.”
The FTC suit also states the Defendants violate other FDCPA provisions and do not properly disclose their identity and fail to notify consumers of their right to dispute and obtain verification of their debts.
The suit describes the enterprise in depth and alleges how it all works. According to the suit, the consumers is made to believe a lawsuit has been filed or will soon be filed against them. The consumer is offered an opportunity to settle the case by making a payment instead of having to deal with the lawsuit.
The debt collectors pretend they are process servers and call consumer’s employer, family member, friend or neighbor. These people have been told that the consumer is about to be sued and they may be arrested if the consumer does not properly call back.
Employees of debt collectors are told and instructed on the following tactics.
You can read the entire FTC lawsuit, here.
Update 10-21-2011
A reader reports that Wayne Lunsford appeared in the following information on the web.
Santa Monica’s local Team Fight Science fighter Mozzy Arfa made quick work of Riverside’s Wayne Lunsford by slamming him violently to the mat and followed up with unchecked hammer fists from the side-control. With Lunsford unable to defend himself intelligently, “Doc” Hamilton stopped the fight at 48 seconds of the first round. – Source
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My employer received a call today. She was told that I had a summons to go to court on case #104###. She was told that there were current charges against me. She was told that the sheriff has been to my home to serve me. She was told that the case may take place in my absence. She was told that I was to call 888-315-8269 right away. The name of the person calling was Carrie Smith and her title was “Locator”. When I got home, I had two voice messages for me to call this company back, with a similar story. I called the company. The woman explained that I owed a debt from a few years ago, in the amount of $400. She then told me that I needed to pay over $900 because of the legal fees. She said I had the option to pay it or to go to court. I told her I was fine going to court. She said that I would have to be served at work. I told her that I would give her my attorney’s information and she could serve him. She said that an attorney could not be served, that I had to be served at work. I explained that I use to work for a law firm, and I knew from that experience that I could have any legal documents served to my attorney on my behalf. She put me on hold for a couple of minutes. She came back on and said that the court documents had been filed and that I would be served at work. She then hung up on me. I called the company back, and a man answered “Manager, how can I help you.” I didn’t respond. He then said “ma’am, how can I help you?” Now, I hadn’t said a word, but he knew I was a woman? I called back, but blocked my number. I got the company message that it was “Progressive.” ??? Has anyone else heard about this company? I am most concerned that this company contacted my my employer and gave them so much information. She called me into her office and closed the door and told me about the call. She was very worried for me. I am so angry but I don’t know what I can do, other than a report to the BBB. But, from all these posts I am reading, it doesn’t seem like it will change much. They will simply keep calling and will try calling my family and friends as well. 🙁 Very frustrated!
This morning I received a call and my mother received a similar call, just called back because I knew it was fishy ( wrong middle name, said they missed me at my southlake avenue apt, somewhere ive never heard of, and they needed to verify my place of employment and my home address, which apparently they already know since they missed me!) called with a blocked number and spoke to “Susan” who was rude turned angry and hostile, after our conversation about harassment and illegally using auto dialers. She wouldn’t tell me exactly what progressive was when I started asking more questions. I told her earlier that I was a student, she then said “you are a student right? Well go read a book” then she hung up on me. Sorry that they called your employer! The funny thing is, I don’t even have a checking account to write bad checks! The original voicemail said that was what was being notified to me. Mr. Turner called me
Those calling themselves County Filing Services, BMG, Superior Filing, Eagle Filing, etc. (all at 1240 E. Ontario Ave. UPS box) are still at it! What happened? And who is Samuel G Lockhart and what is his involvement?
if all the low life debters actually payed your debts then you guys shouldn’t be going through this problem.. if you owe something pay it back
You’ve obviously never been through any rough times. What an asshole. I hope your family member never gets cancer, you never have a divorce, never get in a car accident and become unable to work, have a sick child or lose your spouse unexpectedly… You’re really a Dick for making this comment. I know some of the people involved in this and I hope you aren’t one of them because your post is the type of comment that probably took this company down. I’m surprised at how unintelligent some people can be in their posts…
STOP MAKING UP EXCUSSES AND DO THE RIGHT THING.. YOUR PARENTS SHOULD OF TOUGHT YOU BETTER. INSTEAD OF WASTING YOUR TIME ON MAKING UP EXCUSSES, YOU CAN BE PUTTING THAT TIME INTO WORKING AND PAYING BACK WHAT YOU OWE. PEOPLE LIKE YOU MAKE HARD WORKING AMERICAN’S LOOK BAD YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOUR SELF!!
Good one Jimmy. I agree. Jefferson county should have paid all their debts related to the Jeffco bond fiasco. The mortgage Bankers Association should have paid off their building in DC instead of walking away. Greece, Italy, Iceland, Portugal, Spain, Hungary etc. should STHU and pay the piper. The DNC should pay the bills and not negotiate lower. The list goes on and on and on.
Money gets lent. Credit gets extended. Some if it defaults and goes unpaid. Happens to people, companies, governments and political parties.
Get over it.
LMAO! Great point Michael….oh and great comeback Jimmy…btw tool, if you think this type of strong-arming tactic is acceptable then maybe your parents should have taught you better.
SOMETIMES A LITTLE BIT OF “STRONG-ARMING TACTIC IS ACCEPTABLE” TO MAKE THEM PAY BACK WHAT THEY OWE. IM SURE ALL THE LOW LIFE DEBTORS OUT THIER HAVE JUST ENOUGH BRAINS TO KNOW NOT TO BORROW MONEY IF YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO PAY BACK. BUT THEN AGAIN THAT’S WHY THEY ARE IN THIS SITUATION!, AND FOR EVERYONE WHO TRIES TO IGNOR THE FACT THAT NOT PAYING BACK THE MONEY YOU IS OK THEN, THAT IS JUST SAD! MAYBE THAT’S WHY EVERYONE OF YOU GOES THROUGH SOMETHING BAD, YOU GUYS DESERVE IT
Jimmy_24….. 24 = age. IF I WRITE IN ALL CAPS WILL I APPEAR MORE INTIMIDATING TOO? You are obviously a young debt collector passionate about your job therefor your opinion is bias and it’s clear you are not even open to the possibility that bad things happen to good people so continuing this conversation is pointless. I will say this however, (1) this site is here for consumers who have gone through a true financial hardship (death in the family, loss of job, accident, divorce etc) and they are here seeking help. They want to pay their debts but they just cant – not all of them and certainly not all at once so you collectors are mad that you have to wait in line? I haven’t come across many consumers who just wake up one morning and decide to not pay their bills anymore and (2) this site is not here for lazy deadbeat consumers looking to walk away from their debt. Many on here are from the Debt Settlement industry and genuinely look to help consumers get out of debt, myself included. We are the ones on the front lines dealing with those consumers that you scare the crap out of. You guys break the law every damn day with your tactics so I want to thank you for publicly showing the collectors mentality to the consumers who read these posts. This exact mentality is why consumers who have finally had enough of your aggressive collection calls call me. Thanks again grasshopper, keep up the great work!
AND IF “MONEY GETS LENT. CREDIT GETS EXTENDED AND SOME OF IT GOES UNPAID”. THEN DON’T COMPLAIN AND CRY WHEN YOU GUYS GET THE CALLS IT IS THAT SIMPLE!
My point was more to the fact that the entire globe is awash with debtors of every class and affiliation without bias. Credit fueled monetary policy combined with pulled forward demand economies are good like that.
if all the low life debters actually payed your debts then you guys shouldn’t be going through this problem.. if you owe something pay it back
LETS SEE WHAT HAPPENS,
LETS SEE WHAT HAPPENS,
Thanks for posting Steve. Someone apparently was NOT happy that this was being discussed a LOT at complaintwire.org over the last few days — and that entire site was abruptly shut DOWN yesterday!
This is great! The FTC moved pretty quickly on this. No doubt this site also played a role in making this happen. Good work.
I don’t think there was anything hasty about it. The documents suggest the FTC spent many many months – perhaps a year or more – investigating before dropping the hammer.
nobody said they were hasty. It seems most comments about them opine that they move too slow. Who knows how long they were working on this. I’m just saying they seemed pretty diligent in this matter.